The spate of ballot measures put on the ballot by conservative activists Bill Sizemore and Kevin Mannis are drawing plenty of deep-pocketed opposition. But voters also face one other far-reaching initiative - which would create a non-partisan primary system - that just might squeak through without any big-dollar campaign against it.

Measure 65 is the handiwork of former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling, an independent-minded Democrat who says an open primary - as he calls it - would force candidates to appeal to the broad electorate instead of the activists in their own parties.

Washington voters are trying this system for the first time at their Aug. 19 primary. The way it works is that candidates of all parties - or no party - appear on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Portland Political consultant Pat McCormick, who has worked on a number of ballot measure campaigns, said he thinks it is a bad idea and would love to run a campaign against it.

"The public support for the idea can evaporate real quickly," he said. But he added that no one has stepped forward to put any money up against it.

Scott Moore, a spokesman for Defend Oregon, the group organized to fight the Sizemore and Mannix ballot measures, said his group is taking a pass on Measure 65. He said they have members on both sides of the issue.

The Democratic and Republican parties have long opposed the idea since their voters would no longer get to choose who to put on the general election ballot. Under Measure 65, you could even have two Democrats or two Republicans or even two independents advancing to the general election.

But neither party seems inclined to invest real money in fighting the initiative.

"I don't think we'll take the lead on this," said Trent Lutz, executive director of the Democratic Party of Oregon. He said the party might join with other groups to oppose the measure. Brianne Hyder, a spokeswoman for the Oregon GOP, said she also didn't see her party "leading a big advocacy campaign on this."

It's still early. There are rumblings that some of the unions may weigh in against this. After all, they're doing pretty well under the current system in Oregon, which is dominated by union-friendly Democrats.

But unless things change in the next couple of weeks, Keisling may have an excellent chance of bringing his long-sought reform into reality. He said his own polling has consistently shown strong support for the idea.

Keisling said his group, which spent about $400,000 getting the measure on the ballot, is busy re-stocking its campaign fund. "We know our job is to raise a lot of money," he said, adding that he recognizes he has a lot of opponents.

However, he added, "the real test will be whether they oppose it and put in significant time, attention and money against it."